Whether you had to wear them in the past or not, it is easy to see why there is such a debate about uniforms in school. In years gone by, it was more acceptable to students when having to wear a uniform at school, mainly because the rules were different. However, years go by and rules obviously change with time. When you take into account all of the different personalities, backgrounds and cultures that you have melting together in schools today, it is normal that you would have parents, faculty and children all butting heads when it comes to a discussion about the need for uniforms in school.

No matter which side you happen to be on, it is possible that the debate over the advantages and disadvantages of school uniforms will go on forever. Whether it seems to be a matter of personal preference or not, there will still be institutions that will insist on the solid rule that students will have to wear some sort of uniform. However, where do the students and their wishes come into the equation? With so much talk about how you should remain an individual and express yourself, is it right to tell students that they need to fall in line and wear what everyone else is wearing? What about self-expression, and should students be able to pick their clothing within reason? The debate continues.

The Pros of Uniforms in SchoolThe pros of wearing uniforms in school will obviously vary depending on the area of the country you live in. Some schools might find that uniforms will be necessary to curb any possible problems that could arise from gang situations.

In certain gangs, there is a need to wear the chosen colors for the group depicting the level of involvement that a student may have in various gang activities. School officials will argue that stopping the introduction of such gang colors into school campuses will lessen any possibility of violence outbreaks.

In addition to the idea of curbing gang related issues, some schools will look to uniforms as a possible way to bring together students as a unit. This idea of a united group of students from various backgrounds is based on the premise that uniforms will give students a certain sense of pride in their school as well as their education. Cutting down on the number of cliques that are formed in school due to economic or social status seems to have had a positive outcome in the past from having students wear designated uniforms in school. Just as athletic teams wear uniforms, students wearing uniforms can also promote school unity.

If you are a parent, do you think that having your child wear a uniform in school will help him or her behave and perform better? This is one of the common arguments that many school officials have when debating about school uniforms. Perhaps by providing a student with a collection of uniforms to wear to school, it can cut down on the time he or she spends getting dressed in the morning. One may argue that this extra time saved during the morning hours will give a student that supplement of time for studying or much-needed sleep.

There is also the argument that having uniforms in school will cut down on possible distractions. When you do not have a group of students who are dressed in expensive clothing brands or showing off offensive graphics, then you are creating a more serious tone. With a strict and more structured environment and less clothing distractions, there will be much more learning taking place.

The Cons of Uniforms in SchoolAs you flip the coin and begin to look at some of the cons associated with wearing school uniforms, the lines become blurred in terms of necessity versus self-expression. Many students feel as though their individuality is being ripped away from them when they are forced to wear a school uniform. By introducing school uniforms into a particular institution, are you stifling a student’s creativity and artistic ability? If students are encouraged to express themselves as individuals, forcing them to wear uniforms may be placing them into a lump group or mold.

Advocates on behalf of students who do not want to wear uniforms in school say that this is a negative aspect of uniforms, stifling a world where we should be celebrating diversity and culture.

In turn, perhaps you are reducing the amount of socialization taking place, which has been known to be a regular part of simple human nature and growth.

As far as the argument that many parents have, there is the obvious issue of cost. Certainly, you will no longer have to purchase the hottest clothes from the latest clothing lines for your kids, however, there is the price of the school uniform. Many parents like the freedom of being able to get use out of hand me down clothing or even shopping at consignment or discount stores. In many cases, purchasing school uniforms can be quite costly for parents, especially if they have a family with two or more children in the school. Many bring in this side of the argument stating that the extra cost of school uniforms will end up being quite a burden in the long run.

Some of the possible downfalls of children having to wear uniforms in school include comfort. There is a theory that many students will perform much better in school if they are wearing comfortable clothing. Students argue that no matter what the uniform may be comprised of, they simply feel uncomfortable while sitting in class. Is it possible that in order to achieve optimal learning, a student needs to be comfortable? If so, a stuffy and stiff uniform is thought to get in their way.

Creative Solutions to the School Uniform Debate Many schools are opting for relaxed rules and awarding students who have good behavior with occasional “dress down” days where they don’t have to wear a school uniform. Wearing street clothes provides not only self-expression on those special days, but also a badge of pride because they earned the right to ditch their uniforms for the day. Many schools are also allowing students to wear “street clothes” on school outings and at school sponsored social events.

Another way schools are attempting to help parents offset the financial burden of purchasing school uniforms, especially in larger families, is by making uniform sets available for purchase at a reduced price. These are generally available to families who meet certain income criteria and will be available to every child that attends public schools.

No matter which side of the issue you are on, being informed is the key to making a good decision about whether or not to vote for or against the issue of uniforms in school. Talk to your children, find out their personal concerns and use the information in this article to make an informed choice when the option to implement school uniforms comes to your school district.

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